Errrrmmmm... There are 3 peeing statues in Brussels. Yes, there are 3 sculptures that are urinating in public in Brussels!!! One of which is very famous of a little boy and the rest 2, not so famous!
Well, what's the obsession of the Dutch people & pissing???!!!!! I read somewhere of this explanation - Belgium is synonymous with beer. Belgium is known for its beer and the Belgian people drink so much beer. Drinking beer increases the tendency to urinate and that's the obsession of Belgians with pissing!!! I don't know if its true or not, but I'd like to believe it, coz its such a damn interesting reason!!!
To begin with the most famous sculpture - Manneken Pis. The first reaction as soon as I went to Manneken Pis was - OMG, its sooo tiny!!!! I expected a slightly bigger statue and standing at just 61cm, he's just too tiny and insignificant. I reached here at around 8.30AM and there was nobody there. I reached the spot and then I wasn't even sure if I was in the right spot, even after noticing this boy, coz somehow I felt he wouldn't be this tiny!!!! Anyways, inspite of being tiny, he's the icon of Brussels in the World stage.
The original statue was made of stone in the middle ages and it played a vital role in the city's water supply system till 19th C. Later it was replaced with a bronze replica in 1618 or 1619 and the stone statue was taken to the Maison du Roi museum in Grand Place. The sculptor of the bronze one was Hiëronymus Duquesnoy the Elder. Yes, the sculpture is clothed many a times to signify the current affair or festivities and I was rather glad I got to see the nak*d boy as he was!
From there I set out in search of his sister Jeanneke Pis. This was even more difficult to find. It was at a walkable distance from Manneken Pis and at the end of a tiny lane filled with pubs within a grill enclosure just opposite to Delirium Cafe & Bar. This was designed by Denis-Adrien Debouvrie in 1985 and was kept here in 1987. As a sculpture she is almost the same height at her brother, but since she's squatting, her actual height is much higher than her brother! This too is a working fountain, but it wasn't working early that morning. The proceeds from the coins that's thrown into this fountain (like a wishing well) are forwarded to the medical research for cancer.
From there, I started off to meet their pet dog Zinneke Pis (aka Het Zinneke). Can you see him in the above pic???? There at the junction of the crossroads near the iron stump.
Unlike the other 2, this isn't a working model, but a stand alone statue and its open to public to touch & feel and not in any enclosure. This was created by by Tom Frantzen in 1998. This sculpture is so natural depicting the natural action of a dog when it urinates, lifting one of its hind legs.
To Get There:
Manneken Pis:
Jeanneke Pis:
Zinneke Pis:
P.S: I was invited by VisitBrussels - Brussels Card to experience the city for review purpose, however the opinions are my own and this post does not to advertise the product/service.